Lock



J.ANDRE Aug. 30, 1966 LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1964 INVENTOR. fin/v 4N0?! J. ANDRE Aug. 30, 1966 LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1964 INVENTOR. Jaw 4N0?! BY M &W

Arman 245 Aug. 30, 1966 J NDRE 3,269,158

LOCK

Filed May 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet IS IN VENTQR. J'MA/ Awe:

Array/vi? United States Patent M Claims. let. 7tl216) My invention relates to means especially useful for installation in connection with hinged doors for securing the doors in closed position relative to a surrounding door frame.

Locks of this general type are shown in .prior United States of America patents issued to Samuel Gilbert 2,989,332 on June 20, 1961 entitled Door Latch and Lock Mechanism, to Hollis De Vines, 3,035,432, on May 22, 1962, entitled, Door Latch and Lock Mechanism, and to Hollis De Vines, 3,072,427, on January 8,

1963, entitled, Door Latch and Lock Mechanism.

In many locks there is manually operated mechanism for preventing the rotation of one of the lock handles in order to provide a degree of security.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock of the indicated sort which has the function of being operable by a key effective upon a tumbler mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock comprising a wafer tumbler mechanism substantially entirely included within the hollow knob of the lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock having a wafer tumbler assembly in which the tumblers are arranged for operation at a number of different levels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock in which a wafer tumbler can be supported on a partial spindle in order that the lock can be fabricated either as a tumbler operated device or as a button operated device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lock in which a tumbler mechanism is arranged to be aligned, supported and operated coaxially with the lock spindle and with interengagement between the spindle and the lock knob.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lock having a wafer tumbler assembly in which the wafers are retained in position by a special means.

Other objects of the invention are attained in the embodiment thereof described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan of a lock constructed in accordance with the invention as it is installed in a hinged door, portions of the figure being broken away to disclose the interior construction, particularly that of the wafer tumbler unit;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed cross section of the installed wafer tumbler unit, the plane of section being indicated by the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing in isometric projection the tumbler unit, the adjacent hollow spindle and an intermediate connecting ring;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric projection showing an end of the hollow spindle from a different viewpoint than in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section through the wafer tumbler unit indicating one form of wafer;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing a different form of wafer;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURES 5 and 6, but showing a still further form of wafer;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view showing in cross section a wafer unit with a cooperating key in operating condition with respect thereto; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross section, the plane of which is Patented August 30, 1966 indicated by the line 9-9 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the knob locking mechanism.

While the lock pursuant to the invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, it has been successfully built as shown in the accompanying drawings. In the usual environment, the lock is designed for mounting in a hinged door 6 adapted to swing with respect to a door frame 7. The door has a cross bore 8 extending entirely therethrough. A bolt bore 9 is provided in the door to intersect the cross bore 8 and is formed with a recessed portion 11 near the door edge.

Designed to be disposed Within the bore 9 is a generally circular cylindrical bolt housing 12 having a rim 13 seated within the recess 11 and comprised of a sheet formed and folded upon itself to afford two semicylindnical enclosure shells 14 and 16. The sheet is bent and contoured to constitute an elongated re-curved extension 17 projecting across the cross bore 8.

Adapted to reciprocate or slide within the semicylindrical shells 14 and 16 is a latch bolt 18 of the customary configuration designed when projected to occupy a recess 21 in the door frame 7. To retract the latch bolt 18 against the urgency of a spring, not shown, the latch bolt is provided with an operator 22 disposed between the sides of the extension 17. The operator 22 is disposed within the bore 8 and extends across the bore axis 23. When the operator 22 is withdrawn relative to the extension 17, the latch bolt 18 is likewise withdrawn, and when the operator 22 is released, the bolt 18 is spring pressed to extend outwardly.

Designed to be received in a portion of the cross bore 8 is a primary spindle housing 26 in the shape of a cup. Interengaged with an outstanding flange 27 on the cup is an escutcheon or rose 28 suitably finished for appropriate appearance. Adjacent the housing 26 and engaged by the rose 28 is a mounting plate 29. This has an inturned portion 39 which with a similar portion of the housing 26 serves as a journal mounting for a horizontal, circular cylindrical, primary spindle 31. Engaging the projecting portion of the spindle 31 is a primary knob 32 of appropriate configuration to afford a cylindrical member 33 telescoping with the hollow spindle 31 and appropriately secured there-to for rotation therewith. The knob 32 and the spindle 31 rotate together and are fastened together against relative axial displacement. The knob 32 is hollow and is formed with an opening 34 concentric with the axis 23. A controlling button 36 is disposed in the opening 34. The button is rotatable relative to the knob 32, but is not axially translatable relative thereto. The button 36 engages a transmission member 37 having a tongue 38 extending into the interior of the lock and ending in a cross piece 39 with a rectangular slot 41 therein.

On the other side of the door panel 6, there is a comparable arrangement. Also extending into the cross bore 8 is a secondary housing 51 of cup shape like the primary housing 26 and having an interior flange 52 at the extremity of the cup. A similar, out-turned flange 53 is mated with a comparable exterior flange 54 on a supporting disk 56. There is an inturned flange 57 on the outer extremity of the disk 56. Holding the flanges 53 and 54 together, in addition to other fastenings, is a spun-over flange 58 on an escutcheon or rose 59 suitably finished for appropriate appearance.

Seated within openings in the plate 56 is a pair of rods 61 and 62 extending through the bore 8 parallel to the axis 23. The rods 61 and 62 have projections 63 thereon contacting the housing wall and limiting rotation of the rods about their own axes. The rods extend through apertures in the extensions 17 and assist in keeping the bolt housing 12 in position relative to the housings 26 and 51. Engaging the internally threaded extremities of a the rods 61 and 62 are fastenings 64 by means of which the lock is clamped in position on the door panel 6.

Mounted to turn-within the flanges 52 and 57 and in alignment with the primary spindle 31 on the axis 23 is a secondary spindle 67 of hollow construction. This secondary spindle at one end has an axial projection 68 olfset and curved to pass freely through openings in the extension 17 and slidably but nonrotatably to engage a cross plate 69 fixed in the primary spindle 31. Between the sides of the extension 17, the projection 68 engages the margins of a roll-back opening (not shown) in the operator 22. The extension thus not only connects the spindles 31 and 67 for rotation in unison but by roll-back engagement with the operator 22 actuates the bolt 18.

On the outer end of the hollow spindle 67 there is mounted a cylindrical hub 71 of a secondary knob 72. The hub 71 is held in place by a lip 73 indented to engage a recess 74 in the spindle 67. The knob 72 is a hollow metal structure of an appropriate shape and is particularly characterized by an inturned flange 75 or projection forming a margin around a central circular opening 76 concentric with the axis 23.

Particularly pursuant to this invention, there is installed almost entirely within the hollow knob 72 a wafer tumbler unit 77 (FIGURE 3) so that the lock mechanism is susceptible to operation by a key. The tumbler unit 77 includes a metal housing 81 formed of a rolled sheet having meeting edges 82 and 83 and likewise includes a pair of longitudinally extending slots 84 and 86 diametrically opposite each other. A pair of side plates 87 and 88 having out-turned flanges 89 thereon and having a centrally tubular portion 91 are disposed parallel to each other and are fastened together and into end disks 92 and 93 with a central space to define a longitudinally extending keyway 94. The end disk 93 carries an ornamental closure cap 95 having an appropriate central aperture 96 for the reception of a key 97. The end disk 92 carries a central hub 102 provided with an aperture 103 of X-like configuration partly defined by a pair of oppositely disposed, internally projecting points 104 and 106.

The side plates 87 and 88 are interrupted to provide transversely extending aligned slots 107 and 108 for the reception of appropriate C-shaped wafer tumblers 109. These tumblers are substantially alike except for certain critical dimensions. From one side of the C-shaped central section 111 of the tumbler 109 there is a projecting tongue 112 in alignment transversely with a similar projecting tongue 113. The central section 111 of the wafer tumbler extends through the aligned slots 107 and 108 so that the tumbler is transversely slidable with respect to the side plates between two positions. In one position the tongue 113 lies within the lower slot 86 of the tumbler unit housing 81. In the other position, the tongue 112 lies within the upper slot 84 of the tumbler unit. In an intermediate position, neither of the tongues 112 or 113 is in either of the slots 84 or 86. A spring 114 associated with each of the tumblers 109 has one end in engagement with a comb 116 extending between the end disk 92 and the end disk 93 so that there is normally a pressure or force on the individual wafer tumblers 109 to urge them into a transverse position with a tongue in engagement with a slot in the housing 81 of the tumbler unit.

The wafer tumblers 109 are all substantially identical except for the distance between the horizontal center line 117 of the wafer tumbler and the plane 118 of a key face 119 of each wafer tumbler. As shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, this distance D varies in the individual tumblers so that the cooperating key has different configurations to produce appropriate operation of the respective tumblers. While the wafers shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are all upright, in practice some of the wafer tumblers may be inverted. Since the tumbler unit 77 is symmetrical and the wafer tumblers can be inverted and reversed, it is only necessary to reposition the springs 114. The wafer tumblers can be arranged so that none, all or only some of them engage one or the other of the slots 86, whereas any others engage the slot 84. The key 97 is correspondingly contoured. To assist in holding the Wafers in position and to guide them in a rectilinear path, there is afforded a strap 120 fastened in and extending between the end disks 92 and 93 and serving as a back-up member.

The key 97 to engage with the wafer tumbler unit is provided wtih a shank 121 having a central reinforcing rib 122 occupying part of the tubular portion 91 of the keyway 94. The shank 721 is provided with notches 123, 124 and 125 of different depths corresponding to the upright or inverted arrangement and the different dimensions D of the several wafer tumblers. Thus, as the key 97 is moved into position axially, the various wafer tumblers, whether inverted or not, are all brought into an intermediate position so that the various projections 112 and 113 are retracted. In this condition, the inner portion of the wafer tumbler unit can be rotated by the key around the axis 23 with respect to the housing 81.

The housing 81 is properly supported and positioned since one end portion interengages with the flange 75, and the other end portion utilizes a special adapter. This adapter is a ring 131 (FIGURE 3) having a pair of diametrically opposed ears 132 and 133 extending to occupy slots 134 and 136 in the end of the housing 81. Also, the casing 81 has a rectangular indentation 137 into which extends a projection 138 or tab on the end of the spindle 67. The diameter and axial extent of the ring 131 are such that it fits well within the spindle 67 and the housing 81 with the ears 132 and 133 occupying the slots 134 and 136. The ring 131 also underlies the projection 138 as the projection occupies the indentation 137. The ring 131 fits partially within the spindle 67 and partially within the housing 81 to help align and support the spindle and the housing in abutment and coaxially. The projection 138 and the configuration of the indentation 137 preclude relative rotation between the spindle and the casing. With this arrangement, the housing 81 and in fact the entire wafer tumbler unit is suspended between and on the inturned flange 75 of the knob and the ring 131 in turn borne by the spindle 67.

The hub 102, when the parts are appropriately assembled, receives the projecting end of a flat strap 141 of such a dimension as to fit into the X-shaped aperture 103. The points 104 and 106 are so disposed that the strap can rotate through ninety degrees simultaneously to contact either one side or the other of the two points, or, the hub 102 can so rotate relative to the strap 141. The strap 141 passes through the spindles and engages the close fitting walls of the transverse slot 41 in the cross piece 39. In this fashion, when the button 36 is rotated, the strap 141 is rotated, and also when the key rotates the wafer tumbler unit relative to the housing 81, the strap 141 is similarly rotated. However, there is ninety degrees lost motion between the operation of the strap 141 and the rotation of the hub 102 because of the aperture 103.

Advantage is taken of the rotation of the strap 141 in order to lock the knob 72 to the remainder of the structure to prevent withdrawal of the latch bolt 18. Within the secondary housing 51 one portion of the secondary spindle 67 carries a transversely slidable wafer 151 having extensions 152 and 153 diametrically opposite each other and projectable through slots 154 and 156 in the spindle. The wafer rotates in unison with the spindle or translates transversely with respect thereto. The translation is accomplished by engagement of the flat strap 141 with the walls of an appropriately contoured opening 157 in the wafer. The wafer is normally urged toward one extreme position by a spring 158 surrounding the extension 153 and abutting the spindle 67. Disposed within the housing is a locking ring 159 having notches 161 engaging the rod 61 and the rod 62 so that the ring 159, although easily positioned, cannot rotate relative to the housing. The ring carries a notch 162 in. the path of the extension 153 and has a semi-circularly extending notch 163 serving to permit a half-revolution of the projected extension 152 and as a stop at both ends of that travel.

When the strap 141 is in the position shown in FIGURE 9, the spring 158 keeps the extension 153 retracted and the spindle 67 can rotate freely throughout a halfturn. When the strap 141 is turned either by rotation of the thumb button 36 or by operation of the key 97, then the strap 141 encounters the wall of the opening 157 in the wafer 151 and translates the wafer, against the urgency of the spring 158, so that the extension 153 lodges within the notch 162 in the nonrotatable ring 159. The spindle 67 and correspondingly the knob 72 are held nonrotatable with respect to the housing 51. Since the spindles 67 and 31 are nonrotatable relative to each other, the knob 32 is also held nonrotatable relative to the housing 26. Under these conditions, a person trying the knob 72 on the outside of the door cannot rotate the knob and hence cannot retract the latch 18. The key, when inserted and turned, releases the mechanism and the knob can be turned. When the thumb button 36 is rotated, the same result ensues and the latch 18 can then be retracted,

With this arrangement, therefore, I have provided a lock which can normally be operated by a thumb button and which can also be operated by a key actuating a wafer unit which is entirely contained within, supported in alignment and made to rotate with the spindle by an appropriate coupling adapter. The key can actuate the wafers in ditferent amounts, depending on the depths of the notches in the key, and an appropriate lock function has therefore been provided.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising a mounting member, a hollow cylindrical spindle rotatably disposed in said mounting member, said spindle at one end having a tab projecting axially therefrom, a hollow knob mounted on and projecting beyond said spindle, a tumbler unit at one end mounted on said knob and having at the other end a cylindrical portion with a pair of slots and an indentation receiving said tab, a cylindrical ring extending into the interior of said spindle and into the interior of said tumbler unit, and axial projections on said ring disposed in said notches.

2. A lock comprising a mounting member, a hollow cylindrical spindle rotatably disposed in said mounting member and extending along an axis, said spindle at one end having a tab projecting axially therefrom, a hollow knob mounted on and projecting beyond said spindle, a tumbler unit disposed within said knob and at one end mounted on said knob, said tumbler unit at the other end having a pair of axially extending slots and an axially indentation, a boss on said other end of said tumbler unit, a cylindrical ring extending into the interior of said spindle and into said tumbler unit, projections on said ring disposed in said slots, a locking slide on said spindle movable into and out of a position engaging said mounting member, and means engaging said boss and extending through said ring for moving said locking slide.

3. A lock comprising a mounting member, a hollow cylindrical spindle disposed in said mounting member for rotation about an axis, a hollow knob mounted on and 0 projecting beyond the end of said spindle for rotation therewith about said axis, an inturned flange integral with said knob concentric with said axis and defining a central opening in said knob, a key-actuated tumbler unit including an external cylindrical sleeve disposed within said hollow knob for rotation about said axis, said sleeve engaging said flange and said tumbler unit being available through said opening, a cylindrical ring extending into the interior of said spindle and said sleeve for holding of said spindle and said sleeve in axial alignment, and means on said spindle and said sleeve in direct axial interen'gagement for preventing relative rotation of said spindle and said sleeve.

4. A lock comprising a mounting member, a hollow cylindrical spindle disposed in said mounting member for rotation about an axis, a hollow knob mounted on and projecting beyond the end of said spindle for rotation therewith about said axis, an inturned flange integral with said knob concentric with said axis and defining a central opening in said knob, a key-actuated tumbler unit disposed within said knob and including an external cylindrical sleeve and an internal rotor, said sleeve engaging said flange and said rotor being available through said opening, a cylindrical ring concentric with said axis and extending into the interior of said spindle and of said sleeve for holding said spindle and said sleeve in axial alignment, means axially interengaging said spindle and said sleeve for preventing relative rotation thereof, a locking slide on said spindle and movable transversely thereof into and out of a position engaging said mounting member, and means extending through said ring and connecting said rotor and said locking slide for moving said locking slide in accordance with the movement of said rotor,

5. In a lock having a cylindrical hollow spindle mounted to rotate about a central axis, a hollow knob mounted on said spindle coaxially therewith and having an opening therein centered on said axis and approximately of the diameter of said spindle, a tumbler unit extending along said axis within said knob, means on said knob surrounding said opening for engaging and supporting one end of said tumbler unit, means on said spindle and said tumbler unit and including an axially extending projection and an axially extending indentation for connecting said tumbler unit and said spindle for rotation in unison, a cylindrical ring extending axially into said spindle and into said tumbler unit for supporting said tumbler unit and said spindle against radial displacement with respect to each other, and means for connecting said ring to rotate with said spindle and said tumbler unit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,649,325 9/1953 Heyer 146 X 2,726,891 12/1955 Gresham et a1 a- 70-224 X 2,870,621 1/1959 Schoepe 70l46 2,966,054 12/1960 Muttart 70-216 X 3,019,633 2/1962 Russell et a1 70224 3,035,432 5/1962 De Vines 70216 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner. 

1. A LOCK COMPRISING A MOUNTING MEMBER, A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL SPINDLE ROTATABLY DISPOSED IN SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, SAID SPINDLE AT ONE END HAVING A TAB PROJECTING AXIALLY THEREFROM, A HOLLOW KNOB MOUNTED ON AND PROJECTING BEYOND SAID SPINDLE, A TUMBLER UNIT AT ONE END MOUNTED ON SAID KNOB AND HAVING AT THE OTHER END A CYLINDRICAL PORTION WITH A PAIR OF SLOTS AND AN INDENTATION RECEIVING SAID TAB, A CYLINDRICAL RING EXTENDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID SPINDLE AND INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUMBLER UNIT, AND AXIAL PROJECTIONS ON SAID RING DISPOSED IN SAID NOTCHES. 